Army looks to recruit more women, adapt physical testing

Stars and Stripes ^ | 2/14/16 | Baldor

[pabianice]

Beginning this summer, a visit to a local Army recruiting office will include a new set of gymnastic tests to help determine what military jobs a recruit is physically capable of performing.

Prospective soldiers will be asked to run, jump, lift a weight and throw a heavy ball — all to help the Army figure out if the recruit can handle a job with high physical demands or should be directed to a more sedentary assignment.

The new tests come as the Pentagon is opening all combat posts to women, a process that involves setting physical standards for every job that both men and women will have to meet.

As part of the effort, the Army will increase the number of female recruiters to better target women. The goal will be to add 1 percent each year for the next three years in order to get at least one woman at each of the Army's more than 780 larger recruiting centers across the country.

...Defense Secretary Ash Carter in December ordered the military services to allow women to compete for all combat jobs. But he and other military leaders have been adamant that the physical standards for the jobs will not be lowered in order to allow more women to qualify.

[PIF]

Yes sir ball throwing is a very needed combat skill ... too few know how, and that’s why we need more women - they are such excellent ball players that anyone but a fool would run ... those Russian Spetz are beginning to look like wusses and limp-wristed mama’s boys ... and so on. The French Military will have proud company in the hall of the surrender monkey when this social experiment grins to its close.

[phormer phrog phlyer]

Well, that did not take long, we are so screwed.

[DuncanWaring]

Many good men will die in combat from the weakness of females.

So will those females.

[48th SPS Crusader]

Now let’s wait for them to come home in body bags.

You do know they are already coming home in body bags don’t you?

[BlueNgold]

Private Benjamin was a comedy.
For a reason.

[BwanaNdege]

This would make a great campaign slogan for Hillary:

"If I'm elected President, there will be a car in every garage and a female in every foxhole."

[Secret Agent Man]

I cant carry a 200 lb guy with my gear and his gear. And I am not in bsd shape, but I know I could not do it under combat conditions.

[Secret Agent Man]

I would doubt anyone thinks “adapt” means “raise” standards, on this issue. :)

[central_va]

Just so you know when the lead starts fling you take off all of your carry. Same with being on patrol or recce mission.

[13foxtrot]

“By doing predictive tests we can marry people up with those specialties that physically they should be able to do, which should reduce attrition and be a better fit for the Army”

Sounds like a good idea. This will also improve the evaluation of male candidates as well.

This isn’t lowering the standards. Nowhere did the article say the tests superseded/replaced the APFT. These are tests done during recruiting to help direct recruits to jobs that they are better physically suited. It will help discourage recruits, male and female, from signing up for MOSs that they cannot handle physically.

[atomic_dog]

IMO the "acid test" is the Marine Corps' Infantry Officer Course. They've been trying to get a female through it and cannot. If they lower the standards there to accommodate females then it is indeed over and we have lost.

Not to mention that is they did lower the standards for women in IOC then there would be a reaction that, if nothing else, would be interesting to watch.

[G Larry]

Well, that is THE STANDARD, and it should NOT be lowered for women attempting to qualify for a combat position.

I’m guessing you’re beyond the recall age.

[airborne]

I would doubt anyone thinks “adapt” means “raise” standards, on this issue. :)

Yes, Orwell would be impressed with the Obama Regime's "WordSpeak" expertise.